EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Chargers are at a 7-3 record through 10 weeks of the NFL season. Los Angeles is currently the highest wild card as the fifth seed in the AFC.
Storylines in this NFL season have been about how wide open the window is for the AFC. So where do the Chargers fall into the picture with the other playoff teams in the conference?
Unexpected rises from the Colts, Patriots and Broncos have secured the top three in the standings. The home field advantage and winning momentum could boost these teams in the playoffs.
While underwhelming, teams like the Chiefs and Bills could still make a run. Buffalo and Kansas City have the most playoff experience, which could wake up these rosters at any given moment.
Now comes the biggest dark horse of the entire AFC, the Chargers. Los Angeles is an outlier since they aren’t an unexpected top seed, but they aren’t underachieving.
The Chargers are a good team that was expected to make the playoffs but nothing more. However, this is what makes them a dangerous team in the postseason.
Playoff material strengths
Playoffs tend to revolve around the passing game from offensive and defensive standpoints. These are two of the best areas where Los Angeles dominates. The offense ranks seventh in passing yards while the defense ranks fifth in the fewest passing yards allowed.
Justin Herbert has been the conductor for the Chargers throughout his entire tenure. This season is no different, as he ranks second in passing yards and is tied for third for passing touchdowns. Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and has torched defenses all season.
On the other side of the field, the passing defense has been a no-fly zone. Los Angeles doesn’t only preserve yardage, but they also force turnovers. The Chargers are top five in interceptions, which makes this defense very difficult to throw against.
Early exit flaws
Although there are strengths of this Chargers team, there are also some red flags. The big red flag is the offensive line that is among the worst in the league. The smaller caution is the run defense, which has shown inconsistency.
The offensive line has been the Achilles heel for the Chargers all season. This unit has allowed 34 sacks, which is tied for third most in the league. They have also allowed a 40.7% no-blitz pressure rate, which ranks dead last. Add this with an injured Joe Alt and the Chargers line is an easily movable object.
Even though the offensive line is a massive flaw, the run defense is still a minor one. This defense has allowed four games with over 115 rushing yards and two games with over 160 yards. This unit struggled against offenses that prioritize the ground game.
Dark horse label
There are weaknesses that could ultimately harm the Chargers come January, but that doesn’t mean they can’t win. There are also strengths from Los Angeles that could result in a Superbowl appearance.
Los Angeles has a strong secondary, an elite quarterback and a complimentary rushing attack. These are all elements that can be useful against each specific AFC contender.
Herbert is a dynamic quarterback that can shred through many secondaries. This would be a major advantage over mediocre passing defenses like the Patriots and Colts.
Generating interceptions has been the recipe for the Chargers secondary all year. This is the game plan that could stall out a pedestrian passing team such as the Broncos.
The rushing attack has been a secret weapon for Los Angeles, who ranks top 10 in yards per game. Running the football would control a Bills or Chiefs defense that struggled with rushing.
Dark horses aren’t the perfect candidates who seem like the for sure pick to win. They’re the unexpected competitor, which is what perfectly describes the Chargers.